Island Living; is it lacking?

"RexZheng;c-17139873" wrote:
I guess they really did not spend their budget too well on Island Living It feels like a map pack because it seems that’s where most of the budgets went. Have to give them credit on the map though, I don’t think any future world could possibly surpass its beauty.

The conservation part is actually also pretty in depth and I have to say it’s not my favorite career because it’s not fun enough for me, but the global policies part really is a cool feature and I hope they had made the political career just like this. Can’t wait for more careers like this in the future.

Other features are really not that impressive. Mermaids are okay since it at least is a step forward; Jet Skis are okay for the customization and ability to be placed in pools.

The rabbit holes are so not needed in this pack. I mean of course we need new careers but come on, my Sims don’t even unlock that lifeguard outfit after maxing out; and the diver reward is bugged because I have one in my inventory but cannot buy a new one because it still says “locked”. The cave is disappointing, the diving is boring and disappointing. And the odd jobs... I wish they put that passion in writing all those humorous notifications elsewhere.

And then the culture... Well, the festivals are so lackluster, apart from the fishing competition, which is good and unique and I like quite a lot, are basically the same. And then there’s not enough cultural stuffs. You know it when they reused bonfires in Get Together and swing sets in Seasons.

I kinda hope they added more depth to the existing contents... But now it’s a pack where there are not a lot to do (if you ignore the rabbit holes) and the existing stuffs lack depth.

Personally I could accept it if they add more culture like new dance, new recreation, or at least work from home lifeguard and fisherman or a system that is in depth like the fame or reputation, clubs or holidays... And add scuba diving, an underwater world and mermaids in a separate GP.

To me depth is everything. I don’t need a rabbit hole career for my Sims to be in to “imagine” my Sims did stuffs on the beach as a lifeguard. I can already do that if I give him an existing career and just say “he’a lifeguard, actually”.

I don’t hate this pack, because the feel of the world is really stunning. But I can’t recommend it at full price. And I don’t think it is on par with any other Sims 4 Expansions.

For those who don't have GT or Seasons, it gives them access to items they'd otherwise have to spend money to get. I could see them doing the same with odd jobs if/when they work on University Life. (I'd like to see odd jobs patched in to base game and to enable them for teens; it would add a new dimension to my runaway teen gameplay.)

I haven't really done anything with mermaids (I just got Hugo Villareal set in Sulani and had him eat a few bowls of Taste of Diet ice cream to slim down, then I need to get him to work out to look more studly) but seems to me they're similar to aliens in that they're fairly limited because they're not the main focus of the pack, unlike vampires in Vampire GP or whatever the occult is in the upcoming Realm of Magic (with a name like that I'd assume witches but one never knows for sure). Plus I'm not sure the lore is really there for mermaids like it is for vampires, but a lot of people wanted them and if they didn't include them in an island pack many in the community would have been upset. Haven't really come across any of the festivals yet; I haven't played much mainly because I was waiting for some key mods to get updated, then I've been ill and haven't been able to spend much time at the computer so I've barely scratched the surface of the pack.